Frequently Asked Questions about Acupunture

  1. How does acupuncture differ from treatments received from a physiotherapist or medical doctor called a 'medical acupuncture'?
  2. How are acupuncturists' regulated?
  3. How does the acupuncturist view sickness?
  4. What is treatment like?
  5. Is acupuncture safe?
  6. What are the side effects of Acupuncture?
  7. Does acupuncture hurt?
  8. What should I know prior to my treatment?

1. How does acupuncture differ from treatments received from a physiotherapist or medical doctor called a 'medical acupuncture'?

2. How are acupuncturists' regulated?

In British Columbia, Canada, Acupuncturists are governed by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia (CTCMA) (in compliance with the Health Professions Act of British Columbia and the Regulations and the Bylaws of the CTCMA).

3.How does the acupuncturist view sickness?

The ROOT of our health problems most often lies in the layers of ourselves that are beneath the physical, in the emotional, mental and spiritual levels. For deep healing to take place, all of these facets must be aligned and made healthy.

Traditional Chinese Acupuncture works to heal these levels. Attending to the needs of these deeper resources allows our life energy to heal us from within.

4. What is treatment like?

Most patients would say, "relaxing." Usually patients leave in less discomfort and are more functional than when they walked in. Sometimes the effects are too subtle to perceive, especially in the beginning of treatment. Yet after 5 to 10 treatments the improvements become more and more apparent..

5. Is acupuncture safe?

If performed by a qualified, conscientious practitioner, yes. Licensed Acupuncturists know the human anatomy well, and insert needles in a safe fashion. The instruments used to penetrate the skin are disposable after a single use. The practitioner is well aware of the concern over infectious diseases, and takes every measure to insure cleanliness as all health care professional do.

6. What are the side effects of acupuncture?

When performed by a properly trained and licensed practitioner, acupuncture is safe and effective, free from adverse or addictive side effects. Quite often, a sense of relaxation and well-being occurs during and after treatments. While undergoing therapy for one ailment, other problems may resolve concurrently. This is a common side benefit that again demonstrates the value of balancing the quality and quantity of "vital energy" within the entire person.

If a person has a complicated health problem, sometimes a slight aggravation of the symptoms will occur. This type of reaction usually occurs with patients who have taken numerous drugs or have a lifestyle that predisposes them to toxic overload. The aggravation is a result of the Acupuncture reactivating the energy system, nervous system and eliminatory organs which have been suppressed by drugs and toxins.

7.Does acupuncture hurt?

Most people who have had acupuncture would describe it as virtually painless or far less painful than plucking out a hair. According to Traditional Chinese doctors, one of the key elements of a successful acupuncture treatment is having the person who is being treated experience what is called the "needling sensation."" This sensation may vary with the treatment, but it has been described as a numbness, tingling, warmth, or other experience that is not simple pain (pain is not an expected or desired response to acupuncture treatment, though it is recognized that needling certain points may involve a painful response). Sometimes the needling sensation is experienced as propagating from the point of needling to another part of the body. The acupuncturist, while handling the needle should experience a response called "getting qi." In this case, the needle seems to get pulled by the body, and this may be understood in modern terms as the result of muscle responses secondary to the local nervous system interaction.

According to this interpretation, acupuncture is seen as a stimulus directed to certain responsive parts of the nervous system, producing the needling sensation and setting off a biochemical cascade which enhances healing. Some acupuncture points are very frequently used and their applications are quite varied: needling at these points may stimulate a "global"" healing response that can affect many diseases. Other points have only limited applications; needling at those points may affect only one of the signaling systems. It is common for acupuncturists to combine the broad-spectrum points and the specific points for each treatment. Some acupuncturists come to rely on a few of these broad-spectrum points as treatments for virtually all common ailments.

The sensations that follow range from nothing at all, to mild tingling, to slight numbness/ aching feeling, to electrical pulsations in areas distant from the site of insertion. All these sensations usually subside once the needles are removed. The needles used for acupuncture are much smaller that the standard hypodermic needle, do not draw blood and are solid, not hollow.

8. What should I know prior to my treatment?

Alcoholic beverages should not be consumed 24 hours prior to treatments. Saunas or hot baths should not be taken 4 hours before or after treatments. Patients should not be extremely hungry or overly full before treatments. A description of current medication.